It's often said that pets and their owners can start to look alike, but these adorable photographs take the old mantra to a new extreme. They are the work of Svetlana Valyiskaya (27), from St Petersburg, who snaps pets in everyday poses in her spare time from her job as a commercial photographer. The vibrant costumes and scenes, which Svetlana designs herself, have made the photos a hit in her native Russia – and it's not hard to see why. She said: “I really love animals, they are loyal, faithful and true and always interesting to work with – plus they never criticise the photographs afterwards”. (Photo by Svetlana Valyiskaya/Mercury)

“The pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis or Hexaprotodon liberiensis) is a large mammal native to the forests and swamps of western Africa (the specific name liberiensis means “of Liberia”, as this is where the vast majority live). The pygmy hippo is reclusive and nocturnal. It is one of only two extant species in the Hippopotamidae family, the other being its much larger cousin the common hippopotamus”. – Wikipedia

Photo: Monifa, a one month old baby Pygmy Hippopotamus takes a morning bath at Taronga Zoo on November 7, 2008 in Sydney, Australia. Monifa is the first Pygmy Hippopotamus to be born at Taronga Zoo in the past twenty three years. (Photo by Sergio Dionisio/Getty Images)

“Sepak takraw or kick volleyball, is a sport native to the Malay-Thai Peninsula. Sepak takraw differs from the similar sport of volleyball in its use of a rattan ball and only allowing players to use their feet, knee, chest and head to touch the ball. It is a popular sport in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Philippines”. – Wikipedia

Photo: Hyun Ju Kim of Korea kicks over the net against Yukie Sato of Japan during the round robin match between Korea and Japan during day one of the ISTAF Sepaktakraw World Cup at Titiwangsa Stadium on July 21, 2011 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images for UFA Sports)

Italian-American actress and model Julia Fox and American actress Chloe Fineman attend the Marshall Columbia x Cash App Pink Party during NYFW on September 7, 2023. (Photo by Deonté Lee/BFA.com)

American actress Megan Fox and American rapper Machine Gun Kelly are seen at the annual “Casamigos” Halloween party on October 27, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rachpoot/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)

American actress Sydney Sweeney and American model Emily Ratajkowski cuddle up at the Kerastase Pop-Up at Lavan New York in the first decade of April 2025. (Photo by sydney_sweeney/Instagagram)

CHALLOCK, ENGLAND - MARCH 31: Tony Hall walks with his dog through an installation entitled 'Super Kingdom', which hangs in trees in King's Wood as part of the Stour Valley Arts project on March 31, 2011 in Challock, England. The works by artists Bruce Gilchrist and Jo Joelson of 'London Fieldworks' consist of a series of interesting animal habitats, modelled on the palaces of Stalin, Ceauscescu and Mussolini, and offer nesting sites to many native and migrant species. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)